A weakening line of severe thunderstorms weakened as it moved across the rugged terrain of east Tennessee and western North Carolina, but nevertheless produced wind damage in Graham County, NC.
Every event with a place to put it. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS GSP wrote it up.
A weakening line of severe thunderstorms weakened as it moved across the rugged terrain of east Tennessee and western North Carolina, but nevertheless produced wind damage in Graham County, NC.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Greenville-Spartanburg, SC wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Apr 9, 1:07 AM EST, 20 minutes earlier.
Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
207 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2020
.SYNOPSIS...
A cold front will cross our area from the northwest on this morning,
with cool and very dry high pressure spreading over the region
for Friday and Saturday. Low pressure with abundant moisture is
expected to affect our region on Sunday and Monday before high
pressure returns by the middle of next week.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/...
As of 145 AM Thursday: An organized line of thunderstorms is currently
moving over Eastern TN and is just about to move into our westernmost
zones. The line is expected to maintain itself at least to some degree,
as it moves over the NC mtns. The latest guidance weakens the convection
to some degree as it moves east of the higher terrain, however this could
be misleading, as often happens with the CAMs. The main line of storms
is now expected to be moving east of the CWFA by roughly 11z or 7am.
Otherwise, a strong short wave crosses the area late tonight/early
Thursday pushing a cold front across the area. Strong to severe pre-
frontal convection is expected to develop to our NW and move into
the mountains before daybreak and cross the area early Thursday
before moving east before noon. Although instability will weaken
given the time of day, strong forcing and relatively steep lapse
rates will be enough to keep convection going as this system crosses
the area. Strong deep layer shear will continue, so some of the
storms will be severe, especially across the mountains, but possibly
east of the mountains as well. Lows tonight will be around 15
degrees above normal. Expect winds to turn to the west to NW behind
the front and become very gusty. Deep mixing on Thursday will tap
stronger winds aloft leading to wind gusts possibly reaching Wind
Advisory level. Given the potential for severe storms, will hold
off on any Advisory for now. The deep mixing will also lead to
significant drying during the day. Highs will be near normal across
the mountains and up to 10 degrees above normal elsewhere.
&&
.SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
As of 111 am Thursday: All of our weather concerns are of the
non-precipitating variety for the end of the week. We should be
under a cool and dry NW flow aloft that supports a large continental
sfc high building in Friday and moving past on Saturday. Actually,
it will be very dry on Friday, with afternoon RH making it down
at least into the low 20 pct range, and probably down into the
teens. Some residual winds aloft should be able to mix down into the
early afternoon, meaning that we will probably have Fire Weather
concerns thru the afternoon, possibly Red Flag conditions in some
locations. Temps will be well below normal under a sunny bright
sky. The sfc high should be located overhead at daybreak Saturday,
providing for excellent radiational cooling conditions that will
allow for temps to fall down into the mid/upper 30s across the area
east of the mtns, with freezing temps over the higher terrain. This
raises the strong possibility of frost across at least the NC
foothills and NW Piedmont, but right now the fcst keeps temps above
32F outside the mtns. We will continue to monitor this situation
as well. We should see some rebound in temps on Saturday as the
high moves off to the east, while high clouds begin to stream in
from the SW ahead of the next weather system in the afternoon.
&&
.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
As of 1224 AM Thursday: The hits just keep on coming through
the first part of the medium range. The model guidance has not
substantially changed with the overall plan that would have a srn
stream system getting picked up and kicked out to the northeast on
Saturday night/Sunday/Sunday night, with the same timing differences
noted in previous model cycles. The important details remain
murky. Either way, still a good bet that moisture return will be
well underway Saturday evening with precip spreading up from the
southwest in the pre-dawn hours. Once the moisture comes in, it
should do so with a vengeance as the Gulf will be wide open. The
GFS suggests PW climbing above 1.5 inches which is well above the
top end of the sounding climatology, so needless to say this system
looks wet. Both models suggest a heavy rain threat on Sunday/Sunday
night as all manner of strong forcing and deep moisture is brought
to bear, with the potential for a few inches widespread across
the region. Fortunately, it has been fairly dry in the last week
or two so perhaps some of this can be tolerated. The chance of
severe thunderstorms looks to be on an increasing trend, which
is also worrisome, with the guidance now suggesting the passage
of a triple-point sfc low over the srn Appalachians during peak
heating on Sunday in the case of the GFS. If that were to happen,
it would be less likely that any weak wedge or cool pool would be
able to hold on, which could expose the area east of the mtns to
at least a high shear/low CAPE environment if not more. We will
continue to monitor this potential over the next day or two. This
system should exit quickly late Sunday night/Monday morning, so
precip chances diminish then. We might get one above normal day
before the long-wave upper trof to our west allows for a cooler
high pressure air mass to start building in to bring us back down
below normal. Confidence is really stretched thin beyond that,
with a weak system sheared out and caught up in the fast cyclonic
flow that would come through Tuesday or Wednesday. Looks like less
of a chance of high elevation snow in this cycle. Thursday should
be dry again with temps slightly below normal.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
At KCLT and Elsewhere: An organized line of thunderstorms is currently
moving over Eastern TN and will reach our fcst area within the next hour
or so. The line is expected to maintain itself at least to some degree,
as it moves over the NC mtns (including KAVL). It will likely maintain
enough energy to produce convection over the rest of the tafs sites over
the next few hours. It's expected to be east of the fcst area by roughly
11z with some lingering showers possible for a few more hours in its
wake. After that, skies will clear and winds will become WLY/WNWLY and
gusty. I have gusts of roughly 25 kts at all sites thru about 00z tonight.
At KAVL, winds will favor a NWLY direction behind the front, and gusts will
likely be stronger (more like 30 to 35 kts) with weaker gusts lingering
thru the end of the taf period. Otherwise, expect VFR conditions thru
the rest of the taf period.
Outlook: Windy VFR conditions continue Friday and Saturday. Precipitation
and restrictions expected to return for Sunday.
Confidence Table...
06-12Z 12-18Z 18-24Z 00-06Z
KCLT High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KGSP High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KAVL High 99% High 97% High 99% High 100%
KHKY High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KGMU High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
KAND High 100% High 100% High 100% High 100%
The percentage reflects the number of guidance members agreeing
with the scheduled TAF issuance flight rule category. Complete hourly
experimental aviation forecast consistency tables are available at
the following link:
www.weather.gov/gsp/aviation
&&
.FIRE WEATHER...
Deep mixing behind the front Thursday will lead to very gusty
winds and significant drying. Wind gusts, and possibly sustained
winds, should reach Red Flag criteria by late morning into the
afternoon. Expect RH values to plummet and reach critical fire
weather levels during the afternoon. Hopefully there will be enough
wetting rainfall to limit fire weather concerns; however, the winds
and RH values will be high enough to potentially increase fire danger.
SC land managers have requested a Red Flag Watch for Thursday.
NC and GA land managers will be consulted on Thursday for any
needed statements or warnings.
&&
.GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
GA...None.
NC...None.
SC...Fire Weather Watch from noon EDT today through this evening
for SCZ001>014-019.
&&
SYNOPSIS...PM
NEAR TERM...JPT
SHORT TERM...PM
LONG TERM...PM
AVIATION...JPT
FIRE WEATHER...65Hazardous Weather Outlook National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC 138 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2020 SCZ001>014-019-100545- Oconee Mountains-Pickens Mountains-Greenville Mountains- Greater Oconee-Greater Pickens-Greater Greenville-Spartanburg- Cherokee-York-Anderson-Abbeville-Laurens-Union SC-Chester-Greenwood- 138 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2020 ...FIRE WEATHER WATCH IN EFFECT FROM NOON EDT TODAY THROUGH THIS EVENING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for upstate South Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms may come over the mountains and reach the Upstate and northeast Georgia in the pre-dawn hours. Damaging winds would be the primary threat. Later developments will determine if, when, and where a severe thunderstorm watch would be issued. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Fire Weather Watch. A few severe thunderstorms could be ongoing across the region at daybreak. The storms are expected to move quickly to the east and out of the area by late morning as a strong cold front moves through. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. GAZ018-026-028-029-100545- Stephens-Franklin-Hart-Elbert- 138 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms may come over the mountains and reach northeast Georgia in the pre-dawn hours. Damaging winds would be the primary threat. Later developments will determine if, when, and where a severe thunderstorm watch would be issued. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. A few severe thunderstorms could be ongoing across the region at daybreak. The storms are expected to move quickly to the east and out of the area by late morning as a strong cold front moves through. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. GAZ010-017-NCZ033-048>053-058-059-062>065-100545- Rabun-Habersham-Avery-Madison-Yancey-Mitchell-Swain-Haywood-Buncombe- Graham-Northern Jackson-Macon-Southern Jackson-Transylvania- Henderson- 138 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2020 ...SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WATCH 94 IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 AM EDT EARLY THIS MORNING... This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for northeast Georgia and western North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. Please listen to NOAA Weather Radio or go to weather.gov on the Internet for more information about the following hazards. Severe Thunderstorm Watch. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. The threat for severe thunderstorms will diminish quickly Thursday morning as a strong cold front sweeps the storms off to the east. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. NCZ035>037-056-057-068>072-082-501>510-100545- Alexander-Iredell-Davie-Catawba-Rowan-Cleveland-Lincoln-Gaston- Mecklenburg-Cabarrus-Union NC-Caldwell Mountains-Greater Caldwell- Burke Mountains-Greater Burke-McDowell Mountains-Eastern McDowell- Rutherford Mountains-Greater Rutherford-Polk Mountains-Eastern Polk- 138 AM EDT Thu Apr 9 2020 This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the foothills and western Piedmont of North Carolina. .DAY ONE...Tonight. A line of strong to severe thunderstorms may come over the mountains and reach the foothills and western Piedmont around daybreak. Damaging winds would be the primary threat. Later developments will determine if, when, and where a severe thunderstorm watch would be issued. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Thursday through Tuesday. A few severe thunderstorms could be ongoing across the region at daybreak. The storms are expected to move quickly to the east and out of the area by late morning as a strong cold front moves through. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... Spotter activation may be needed. Please relay any information about observed severe weather to the NWS while following all local, state, and CDC guidelines. PM
Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
841 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020
NCZ056-068>072-082-508-090115-
Greater Rutherford NC-Gaston NC-Union NC-Cleveland NC-Lincoln NC-
Cabarrus NC-Mecklenburg NC-Catawba NC-
841 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020
...HEAVY RAIN SHOWERS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN CABARRUS...SOUTHERN
CATAWBA...EAST CENTRAL RUTHERFORD...LINCOLN...MECKLENBURG...CENTRAL
CLEVELAND...GASTON AND NORTHERN UNION COUNTIES UNTIL 915 PM EDT...
At 839 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain showers along a
line extending from 14 miles west of Lincolnton to 16 miles northeast
of Monroe, and moving south at 30 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Gastonia, Uptown Charlotte, Monroe, Shelby, Lincolnton, Huntersville,
Central Charlotte, South Charlotte, Northeast Charlotte and Southwest
Charlotte.
Wind gusts of 30 to locally 50 mph will be possible in these areas.
There are no nearby storms associated with this boundary. Strong
wind gusts will develop quickly.
LAT...LON 3496 8030 3488 8033 3508 8091 3511 8093
3509 8096 3512 8104 3515 8105 3516 8115
3538 8183 3560 8142 3527 8045 3519 8051
3517 8047 3517 8039 3518 8037 3517 8036
3520 8028
TIME...MOT...LOC 0039Z 014DEG 25KT 3554 8149 3515 8033
RMSpecial Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
849 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020
NCZ068-070>072-082-SCZ008-009-090130-
Gaston NC-Union NC-Cleveland NC-Cabarrus NC-Mecklenburg NC-York SC-
Cherokee SC-
849 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020
...STRONG THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTH CENTRAL CABARRUS...
MECKLENBURG...CLEVELAND...GASTON...UNION...CENTRAL YORK AND
NORTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTIES UNTIL 930 PM EDT...
At 848 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated strong thunderstorms along a
line extending from near Shelby to 7 miles east of Indian Land, and
moving east at 15 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Gastonia, Rock Hill, Uptown Charlotte, Monroe, Shelby, York, Central
Charlotte, South Charlotte, Southwest Charlotte and East Charlotte.
Wind gusts up to 55 mph and nickel size hail will be possible in
these areas.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall may flood areas with poor drainage, such as
ditches and underpasses. Avoid these areas and do not cross flooded
roads. Water levels of small streams may also rise rapidly. Seek
higher ground if threatened by flood waters.
These storms may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio and
tv stations, as well as local cable tv outlets for additional
information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service.
&&
LAT...LON 3481 8032 3482 8080 3494 8078 3508 8091
3501 8091 3492 8086 3490 8088 3484 8087
3521 8176 3544 8165 3524 8047 3519 8051
3516 8046 3518 8037 3517 8036 3520 8028
TIME...MOT...LOC 0048Z 286DEG 13KT 3529 8156 3499 8073
CarrollPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
924 PM EDT WED APR 8 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0900 PM HAIL 1 W MATTHEWS 35.12N 80.73W
04/08/2020 E1.00 INCH MECKLENBURG NC PUBLIC
DIME TO QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED SOUTH OF CHARLOTTE.
&&
17PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
933 PM EDT WED APR 8 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0905 PM HAIL 5 SSE PINEVILLE 35.03N 80.84W
04/08/2020 E1.00 INCH MECKLENBURG NC SOCIAL MEDIA
QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED OFF LONGSTONE LN.
&&
17Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Greenville-Spartanburg SC
942 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020
NCZ068-070-071-082-SCZ008-009-090215-
Gaston NC-Union NC-Cleveland NC-Mecklenburg NC-York SC-Cherokee SC-
942 PM EDT Wed Apr 8 2020
...A CLUSTER OF THUNDERSTORMS WILL IMPACT SOUTHWESTERN MECKLENBURG...
SOUTHEASTERN CLEVELAND...SOUTH CENTRAL GASTON...UNION...CENTRAL YORK
AND NORTHEASTERN CHEROKEE COUNTIES UNTIL 1015 PM EDT...
At 942 PM EDT, Doppler radar indicated the leading edge of a cluster
of thunderstorms along a line extending from 8 miles southeast of
Shelby to 16 miles southeast of Monroe, and moving east at 30 mph.
Locations to be impacted include...
Rock Hill, Monroe, York, Gastonia, South Charlotte, Southwest
Charlotte, Indian Trail, Kings Mountain, Weddington and Fort Mill.
Wind gusts up to 45 mph, pea size hail and very heavy rainfall rates
up to 2 inches per hour will be possible in these areas.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
Torrential rainfall may flood areas with poor drainage, such as
ditches and underpasses. Avoid these areas and do not cross flooded
roads. Water levels of small streams may also rise rapidly. Seek
higher ground if threatened by flood waters.
&&
LAT...LON 3481 8032 3482 8080 3494 8078 3508 8091
3501 8091 3494 8087 3485 8087 3515 8165
3529 8143 3499 8030
TIME...MOT...LOC 0142Z 287DEG 24KT 3520 8145 3482 8033
CarrollPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1104 PM EDT WED APR 8 2020
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0550 PM HAIL 3 NNE BOILING SPRINGS S 35.08N 81.95W
04/07/2020 E1.00 INCH SPARTANBURG SC PUBLIC
QUARTER SIZE HAIL REPORTED ON SHALLOWFORD RD DID DAMAGE
TO A ROOF.
&&
17The Knoxville radar (KMRX), 98 km away, was scanning. The volume nearest the first event began at 06:29 UTC.
1 thunderstorm wind. Local standard time, as filed.
County comms reported numerous tree limbs and at least two power lines blown down throughout Graham County.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in North Carolina in 2020Every state in 2020This day in weather historyWarnings in North Carolina, April 2020
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 884122.